Physics 30 - Dec 14

Today we finished up special relativity by finishing our example on mass increase that we started last Friday.  Students then had time to work on Assignment 4.3 and get ready for the in class assignment tomorrow on Unit 4.  Students should have done assignments 4.1-4.3 to prepare for the in class assignment.

Physical Science 20 - Dec 14

Welcome to the final week before the Christmas break everyone.  We have a full week ahead of us that will culminate with our unit exam on Thursday.  We are almost finished with refraction and today we looked at the optical systems of the eye, particularly the ability that our eye has to accomodate the fact that we are looking at objects at different distances and need to focus them on the retina of our eye.  We took a couple of slides of notes (slides 83-86) and then students got to sepnd the rest of the class working on their lab reports for Lab 3.2, which we did in class on Friday.  If students were absent Friday, there is a set of sample data in the physics folder of the course notes.  Use that sample data to complete the lab.  The report is due tomorrow. Tomorrow we will look at how we fix some common problems that happen with the optical system of the eye.

Physical Science 20 - Dec 8

Today we looked at how to find the image using the lens and magnification equations.  Students worked through a couple of examples and then they worked on Homework 3.5.  They will get more time to work on this tomorrow.  

Physics 30 - Dec 8

Today we talked about the twin paradox which is another neat ramification of time dilation.  Then we started to look at length contraction, another consequence behind special relativity and the constancy of the speed of light.  This means that for objects approaching light speeds, lengths of those objects actually decreases in the direction of motion as observed in another frame of reference.  We then looked at a couple of examples on how to calculate the length contraction.  This was all covered on slides 50-56 in the Unit 4 Notes.  Students were assigned Part 2 of Assignment 4.3.  We will go over this tomorrow.

Physics 30 - Dec 7

Today in class we started into a new topic - the theory of special relativity.  This is an advanced topic explained by Albert Einstein that has some really neat consequences.  One of those consequences is called time dilation, or the fact the when you move faster, time actually moves slower for you.  We went through what this means and how to actually calculate the time difference.  This was all covered on slides 23-46 in the Unit 4 Notes powerpoint. We did Example 8 and students were given time to do example 9.  Students were then told to begin working on Part 1 of Assignment 4.3 which is on time dilation.  Tomorrow we will start looking at another neat consequence - length contraction.

Physical Science 20 - Dec 7

Today in class students spent time drawing ray diagrams for lenses.  They followed instructions outlined on a handout called Finding the Image Graphically - Ray Diagrams for Lenses.  These instructions guided students through how to draw these diagrams.  It is similar to the diagrams we drew for curved mirrors and there are many analogies to it.  Students then spent the remainder of the class working on Assignment 3.2.  This will be handed in tomorrow.  Tomorrow we will then learn how to find the image mathematically.

Physical Science 20 - Dec 4

Today in class we went over the answers to Part C of the Refraction Practice Problems.  The answers are posted on the blog for students who were absent today.  Check the Answer Key folder in the Physics folder of the Course Notes link along the right of this webpage.  Afterwards, we started to look at an application of refraction called optics.  We learned about some terms that will be important in studying optics.  We then went on to cover lens diagrams and how to discover image characteristics graphically.  This was covered on slides 64-75.  We didn't quite finish off the diagrams today.  We will finish those off on Monday and work on Assignment 3.2.

Physics 30 - Dec 4

Today in class we then went on to learn about an extension to lab 4.2, the existence of something called dark matter.   We learned in the lab that more mass causes more speed for the centripetal motion.  This applies for simple motion that we see on Earth, like a stopper spinning around on a string, as well as the motion of stars in galaxies. 

We learned about a currently anomaly in physics.  This was the fact that stars in a galaxy are moving much faster than they should be.  The mass that consists within the galaxy that we can see is not enough to make the stars move so fast.  This is the basis for the search for dark matter. 

We watch a video today to explore these ideas a little further and to learn more about dark matter research.  Students answered a worksheet that went along with the video.  The worksheet is found here.  It is called Lab 4.2 Supplemental Worksheets.  The video is linked in 3 parts in the Course Video Youtube playlist.  It is called the Mystery of Dark Matter.  If you were absent today, please watch the video there.

Physical Science 20 - Dec 3

Today in class students just worked on Part C of the Refraction Practice Problems.  We will go over this tomorrow and then start to look at an application of refraction, the science of optics.

Physics 30 - Dec 3

Today in class we went over the analysis for Lab 4.2.  I have a handout of what we did today in the course notes link.  It is called Lab 4.2 Analysis Aid and it is found in the Unit 4 folder.  Tomorrow we are going to explore these ideas a little further and watch a video related to them.

Physical Science 20 - Dec 2

On Monday, the sub went over how to use Snell's Law and assigned Part B of the Refraction Practice Problems.  I reviewed this yesterday when I cam back and went through a couple more examples as well as looked at how to draw a refraction diagram.  I assigned Assignment 3.1 as well as Part B and we went over this stuff today with everyone.  Students handed in Assignment 3.1 and we went over the answers to Part B.

Today we moved on to look at critical angle and total internal reflection.  Critical angle is a special incident angle where the refracted angle will be 90 degrees.  If light tries to exit a substance at an angle greater than the critical angle, it wont be able to and it will just reflect around inside.  This is called total internal reflection.  They copied notes from slides 57-61 and worked on Part C of the Refraction Problems for the remainder of the class.  We didn't get to the assignment in Period 3 but we will tomorrow. For Period 2, Part C is due tomorrow.

Physics 30 - Dec 2

Hello everyone.  Sorry for my extended absence from posting but I was sick on the weekend and wasn't able to work on Monday.  We had a substitute teacher on Monday but we continued on with gravitational circular motion yesterday and looking at the motion of planets.  We derived a couple of equations and went through a couple of examples that utilized those equations.  These were examples 6 and 7 in your notes covered on slides 19-22. Assignment 4.2 was given at the end of the class.

Today we went through Assignment 4.2 and then did lab 4.2.  This lab was all about using circular motion to calculate the mass of an object.  Students collected data today and tomorrow we will look at how to analyze that data.  If you were absent today, there is some sample data in the Unit 4 folder.

Physics 30 - Nov 27

Today in class we talked about the lab that students did yesterday on horizontal projectile motion.  The reports for this lab are due on Monday.  There is a set of data in the course notes link under the Unit 4 folder if students were absent yesterday.  We started to look at universal gravitation today and how to some of the intricacies of using the law of universal gravitation.  This was all covered on slides 13-18.  On Monday we will look at gravitation circular motion.

Physical Science 20 - Nov 27

Today in class students wrote their quizzes on the speed of light, magnification and curved mirror equation.  Afterwards, students were given some time to complete their lab reports for Lab 3.1.  I talked about the analysis for the lab and particularly how to do the graph and analyze it.  Remember that this report is due Monday.  On Monday we will talk about the laws of refraction.

Physics 30 - Nov 26

Today we did Lab 4.1 on horizontal projectile motion.  The lab report for this report is due on Monday.  Tomorrow we will be moving on and learning about gravitational circular motion.  If students were absent today, you can use some sample data that is in the course notes link under the Unit 4 folder.  The file is called Lab 4.1 Sample Data.

Physical Science 20 - Nov 26

Today in class we started to look at the laws that govern refraction.  We did this by doing a simple lab.  Students spent the class period looking at how light travels through water using pins and cardboard again.  This was called Lab 3.1.  Tomorrow we will continue with this lab by looking at how we analyze the data.  If students were absent today, they can go into the physics folder of the course notes and find a set of sample data.  It is called Lab 3.1 Sample Data.

Physics 30 - Nov 25

Sorry everyone but I haven't updated the site in a little while.  We started Unit 4 last Thursday and have been learning about projectile motion since then.  Students some some demonstrations related to projectile motion and learned how to solve problems involving projectiles.  This was all covered on slides 1-12 in the Unit 4 Notes powerpoint.  Today students wrote the exam for Unit 3.  Tomorrow, we will be doing a lab associated with projectile motion.

Physical Science 20 - Nov 25

Sorry everyone.  I haven't updated the site in a little while.  Let us take a little trip down memory lane.

Last Thursday, Nov 19, students in Period 2 learned how to draw ray diagrams for curved mirrors and find image characteristics based on the diagram.  This is what students in Period 3 did the previous day on Wednesday.  Period 2 students were then assigned Assignment 2.3 and were told to hand it in on Monday.  Period 3 students worked on Assignment 2.3 on Thursday and it was due on Friday for them.

On Friday, Nov 20, both classes learned how to find the image mathematically using a set of equations.  We took some notes on the equations and how they work and then went through some examples.  This was covered on slides 32-37 on the powerpoint in the Physics folder of the course notes.  When this was finished, students then worked on Homework 2.6.  This was checked on Tuesday.

On Monday, Nov 23, students were still struggling with Homework 2.6, so we went over some more examples and then I just gave them some time to work on it.

Yesterday, I checked Homework 2.6 and we went over the answers to it.  Students then started learning about refraction.  This is another property of light that describes what happens when light enters another substance.  Students took notes on slides 44-51 in the powerpoint.  We finished those notes today and students then worked on Part A of the refraction practice problems worksheet.  These are worksheets that students picked up yesterday in class.

Tomorrow we will go through those problems and then look at the laws that govern refraction.

Physical Science 20 - Nov 18

Today in Period 2 we did what happened yesterday in Period 3.  We learned about the laws of reflection and the different types of reflection.  As well we started to learn about curved mirrors and some important terms for curved mirrors that will help us understand them better.  This was all covered on slides 22-31.

In period 3, we started to figure out how to draw ray diagrams for curved mirrors and how to find images in a curved mirror.  This involved drawing three separate light rays and having them reflect off of the mirror.  Students read through the instructions on how to draw the diagrams and then worked on Assignment 2.3.  They will get more time tomorrow to continue this.

Physics 30 - Nov 17

Today students had a work period to prepare for the in class assignment tomorrow.  They worked on Assignments 3.6-3.8, all of which are going to be covered on the assignment tomorrow.  Good luck everyone.

Physical Science 20 - Nov 17

Today in Period 2 students had a presentation about their options for post-secondary education.  It took all of the class period so therefore we didn't do anything with the course.  In period 3, students learned about the laws that govern reflection as well as the different types of reflection.  Then we started to learn about curved mirrors and how they work.  Students just learned about some different terminology that we are going to use to describe curved mirrors.  This was all covered on slides 22-31.  Students spent the remaining time in class working on Homework 2.5 which I will check tomorrow.  Tomorrow in Period 3 we will move on and learn how to find the image in a curved mirror using a graphical approach.  In Period 2, we will be doing what we did today in Period 3.

Physics 30 - Nov 16

Welcome back from the long weekend everyone.  Today we finished Unit 3 by going over examples 25 and 26 in your notes.  These were rather long an complicated examples.  If you were absent today, try to get the notes off of someone in class.  Tomorrow students will have a period to work on Assignment 3.8.  This will lead into the in class assignment on Wednesday, which is on Assignments 3.6 to 3.8.

Physical Science 20 - Nov 16

Welcome back from your long weekend everyone.  I hope you all had a good break and are ready to make the push to Christmas.  Today in class we went over the corrections to Lab 2.1 after I handed them back.  This should help students fix their mistakes on that lab.  Then we went over the analysis and conclusion to Lab 2.3 which is on the reflection of light.  Students who require help with the analysis can check out this handout.  It has on it all the labels that you need to analyze your lab.

After this, students then learned about image characteristics and the different values that they can have.  This is an important concept moving forward in physics as we will be talking about images in many different contexts.  This was covered on slides 18-21 in the notes powerpoint.  Students are to have Lab 2.3 done for tomorrow to hand in.

Physics 30 - Nov 10

Today we started looking at collisions in 2D.  These problems just turn out to be momentum conservation problems with vector analysis.  We went through Example 24.  On Monday, we will go through examples 24 and 25 to end the unit.  Have a great long weekend everyone!

Physical Science 20 - Nov 10

Happy Friday everyone!  Even though it is Tuesday - it is like Friday.  Today in class we went over Homework 2.4 and then started to discover another property of light.  We started examining the property of reflection.  Students did Lab 2.3 on the reflection of light in a plane mirror.  They were just learning how to anaylize their data before the bell went to end the class.  We will finish up the analysis on Monday. Have a great long weekend everyone!

Physics 30 - Nov 9

Today we finished looking at collisions in one dimension by doing examples 22 and 23 in the notes.  Students then had the remainder of the class to work on Assignment 3.7.  Tomorrow we will start to look at how to solve problems involving collisions in two dimensions.

Physical Science 20 - Nov 9

Today in class we learned about the magnification equation as well how a pinhole camera works.  We took some notes and one example covered on slides 9-16 in the powerpoint.  Students then had the remainder of class to work on Homework 2.4.  I will check this tomorrow.  Tomorrow we are going to look at another property of light - how it reflects.

Physics 30 - Nov 6

e began to look at the conservation of momentum and how we can apply that to different situations.  We went over a couple of examples related to explosions and how to solve them with the conservation of momentum and then we also learned about the different types of collisions.  This was covered on slides 49-53.  We will looking at collisions on Monday with an examination of collisions in one dimension.

Physical Science 20 - Nov 6

Today in class we learned about the next property of light, called the rectilinear propagation of light - this means that light travels in straight lines.  Students did the Activity called Lab 2.1 and most students handed it in by the end of the period.  This lab does not require a formal lab report; students just need to hand in the sheet the accompanied the activity. This will be due on Monday. Have a good weekend everyone!

Physical Science 20 - Nov 3

Today we started our new unit on Physics and particularly light. We talked about the different properties of light and started looking at the speed of light in particular.  We learned that light travels very fast in a vacuum (300 million meters per second) and this makes calculating distances of very far objects easy.  These distances are called astronomical distances and we went over the definition of a parsec, a light year, and an astronomical unit.  We then looked at an example using these and students were assigned Homework 2.2.  We will go over this on Thursday for Period 2.  In Period 3, we didn't quite get to this assignment.  We will discuss when this will be due on Thursday.

There is a new powerpoint that students can download to get the notes for this unit.  It is found in the Physical Science 20 link on the right and the notes are in the Physics folder called Physics Notes.  We went through slides 1-7 today.  Thursday we will be looking at the rectilinear propagation of light.

Reminder that tomorrow is your Midterm exam for chemistry. 

Physics 30 - Nov 3

Today we started to look at momentum, what it is and how we measure it.  We also learned about the impulse momentum theorem.  This means that in order to change an object's momentum, one needs to apply a force to an object for an amount of time.  The product of the force and the time is called the impulse.  We went through examples 16, 17, & 18 and I assigned Assignment 4.6 at the end of the class.  

Reminder that tomorrow you have your in class assignment for the first half of this unit.  It is on Assignments 3.1-3.5.  As well, on Thursday, you have the quiz for lab 2.1.  Study the analysis for Lab 2.1.

Physics 30 - Oct 30

Today in Period 1 we did examples 13-15 on the law of conservation of energy.  Students then had the remainder of the period to work on Assignment 3.5.  In period 5, we were a class ahead of Period 1, so students spent the class working on Assignment 3.5.  Have a safe weekend everyone!

Physical Science 20 - Oct 30

Happy Halloween everyone!  Today in class, even though it was crazy due to halloween madness, we continued on by looking at some skills we will need to work on physics.  We learned today how to manipulate formulas.  As well, we learned how about the process that we will use to solve problems in this class.  These 2 skills were outlined in a powerpoint labeled Equations and Word Problems.  It is found in the Physical Science 20 course notes link on the right.  Students were given two assignments to work on over the weekend.  The first one, called Homework 1.2, is about manipulating formulas.  The second one, called Assignment 1.1, is about solving word problems and I am looking at the process which was outlined in the class.  Check the course notes link for the assignments.  Have a great weekend everyone and stay safe!

Physics 30 - Oct 27

We didnt have Period 1 today due to the awards ceremony.  In Period 5 today students learned about potential energy and how to calculate it.  The concept of defining a reference level is important in understanding potential energy.  Students were given Assignment 3.4 to work on. Tomorrow we will begin to look at the law of conservation of energy and how to work with it.

Physical Science 20 - Oct 27

We had a couple of interruptions to contend with today in class.  In period 2, most of the class was absent due to the late start we had because of the awards ceremony.  Students spent most of the time preparing for their stoichiometry exam tomorrow.  In Period 3, we had to do the Tell Them From Me survey, which took up a significant portion of the class.  Afterwards we returned to the class and continued with the introductory physics activity from yesterday.

Physics 30 - Oct 26

Today we looked at the concept of energy and learned how to calculate kinetic energy.  We also learned how to about the work-energy theorem, where you can calculate the work done by figuring out the change in kinetic energy.  This was covered on slides 15-23.  Assignment 3.3 was given at the end of class. We will go over this on tomorrow and then learn about potential energy.

Physical Science 20 - Oct 26

Today we went over Assignments C25 and C26 in class after I checked them.  We took a significant amount of time going over the answers to the questions as well as talking about the open book exam on stoichiometry that we are having on Wednesday.  When we finished this, we started into the physics unit. We began looking at physics by working on an introductory activity called Introduction to Physics.  This is located in the physics folder of the Physical Science 20 course notes link.  We took up a couple of the questions in the activity and we will continue this tomorrow.

Physical Science 20 - Oct 21

Today students wrote their stoichiometry quiz.  They used the remaining time in class to work on Assignments C25 and C26 as well as the lab report for Lab C4.  Remember that Lab C4 is due tomorrow while the other 2 assignments are sue on Monday.

Physics 30 - Oct 21

Today in class we talked about power and how to calculate it.  We went through a coukle of examples covered on slides 10-14 and students had the remainder of the period to work on Assignment 3.2.  This will be due Monday as we have our Unit 2 Exam tomorrow. Good luck everyone.

Physical Science 20 - Oct 20

Today in class we finished up stoichiometry by looking at percent yield problems.  These are situations where you are given a certain amount of reactant and also given how much product that produces in an experiment.  Using stoichiometry, one can figure out how much product you should have produced, but due to experimental design and setup, these values are always more than what the experiment yielded.  We figured out how to calculate the percent yield of these situations.  These values should always be less then 100%.  These notes were covered on slides 26-30 in the notes and students then spent the rest of class working on Assignment C26. 

We have many things happening in the class at the moment.  Tomorrow is your stoichiometry quiz on Assignment C24.  On Thursday, the report for Lab C4 is due.  With those two things on your plate at the moment, Assignment C26 and yesterday's Assignment C25 will be due on Monday.  You will be given time in class over the next couple of days to work on them.  

Physics 30 - Oct 20

Today we started out new unit on energy and momentum.  We began looking at the physical definition of work and what work is.  We did examples 1-3 and looked at some special situations where work is zero.  Students then had the remainder of class to work on Assignment 3.1. We will take this up tomorrow.  We are moving on tomorrow to look at the concept of power.

Physical Science 20 - Oct 19

Today in class I checked Assignment C24.  After we went over the answers to this, we then learned how to do limiting reactant problems. These types of problems occur when we are given a certain amount of each reactant and we have to determine which one limits the amount of product formed.  The one that does is called the limiting reactant.  This involves doing stoichiometry twice, with each separate reactant to determine an amount of a certain product formed.  Whichever reactant yields the lower amount of product will be the limiting reactant.  This was all covered on slides 16-24 in the notes.  Assignment C25 was given but students will get more time tomorrow to work on it. 

On Wednesday this week we will be having a quiz on Stoichiometry.  Study Assignment C24.  

Physical Science 20 - Oct 14

Today we completed the procedure for the second day of the Lab C4.  When students finished this, they had more time to work on Assignment C24.  They will get more time tomorrow to work in C24, but it is due on Monday.  Students can check answers for the assignment in the answer key folder.

Physics 30 - Oct 14

Today in class we starting to examine uniform circular motion.  This is a type of motion that happens with a constant speed but a changing direction.  A force called the centripetal force causes this type of motion.  We learned how to calculate the centripetal force along with the centripetal acceleration.  We then worked through a couple of examples (#19-22) today and students finished the class by working on Assignment 2.7.  Tomorrow students will get more time to work on this assignment.  Students will need to know if for the next in class assignment on Monday.  It is on Assignments 2.5 to 2.7.

Physical Science 20 - Oct 13

Today in class we started Lab C4, which we will continue with tomorrow.  The part today that students did didn't take too long so then students worked on Assignment C24.  This assignment is due next Monday, so students will have more time to work on it over the week.

Physical Science 20 - Oct 8 & 9

Yesterday in Period 2 we finished examples on slides 12 and 13.  Students then had time to start working on Assignment C24.  In Period 3, we were a little behind and also had to work through the exam on slide 11 as well as those on slides 12 and 13.  Students also started working on Assignment C24.

Today was the exam for reactions, naming and the mole. Students who were absent today need to come and talk to me about when they will be writing the exam.  Have a great long weekend everyone.

Physics 30 - Oct 8 & 9

Yesterday students in Period 1 finished looking at friction on an incline by working through examples 17 & 18.  In Period 5, we had already finished those examples, so students spent the class working on Assignment 2.6.  Students are to continue working on Assignment 2.6 over the weekend and I will take up any questions they may have on Tuesday.

Today we did lab 2.1 where we find the coefficient of static and kinetic friction of your shoe.  Students collected data today for their shoes.  We will talk about the lab report after the long weekend.  It will be due sometime after that.  If students were absent today, there is a set of sample data in the course notes link along the side of the webpage that you can use.

Physics 30 - Oct 7

Today we started to learn about how to handle friction on an incline.  In Period 1 we were interrupted by the grad meeting so we didnt quite get into doing the examples but we learned how to tackle the problems.  In Period 5, we did example 17 and started example 18.  We will finish it on Friday and students will then get time to work on Assignment 2.6.  Tomorrow we are doing Lab 2.1 on the Mu of Your Shoe.  Students are asked to bring in a unique shoe to measure its coefficient of friction.  The most unique shoe will win a prize!

Physical Science 20 - Oct 7

Today in class we finished learning about molar ratios and started doing some stoichiometry problems.  We were a little ahead in Period 2 so we did slides 6-11 in the stoichiometry notes powerpoint.  In Period 3, we did slides 4-10.  Students were then given sometime to work on Assignment C25 with the remainder of the period.  We will go over this tomorrow.

Physical Science 20 - Oct 6

Today we had the first day of stoichiometry.  We learned about molar ratios and how we can get those from a balanced chemical equation.  Afterwards, we did a couple of examples and but students didn't get enough time to work on Assignment C23.  This will be assigned tomorrow and due the next day.  We will continue on tomorrow by looking at stoichiometry problems.  The notes we took today are found on a powerpoint called Stoichiometry Notes and we just did slides 1-7. 

Physical Science 20 - Oct 5

Today in class we went over Assignment C21 after I checked it.  Students then spent the rest of the class working on Assignment C22.  I will check this tomorrow.  C22 was a review of all the different molar conversions that we done with this outcome. This is important for the test we are going to have on Friday.  

Physics 30 - Oct 5

Today we finished up our notes on static and kinetic friction and looked at an example of friction in two dimensions.  We did examples 16 and started example 17. This was covered on slides 49-56 in the powerpoint. Students were then given some time to work on Assignment 2.5.  Reminder that tomorrow is your first in class assignment for Unit 2.  This covers Assignments 2.1-2.4.

Physics 30 - Oct 2

Today in class we finished up friction by doing examples 13 and 14 as well as learning about static friction and friction on an angle.  Students had a little time at the end to work on Assignment 2.5.  We will take this up on Monday.




Gotcha.....Most students were absent today due to the U of S open house therefore I gave the students a work period today to prepare for their in class assignment next Tuesday.  Monday we will be doing what is described above.  There will be no other work period for students who were away today.

Physical Science 20 - Oct 2

Today I checked Assignment C20 and students handed in their reports for Lab C2.  After this, we then learned how to convert from moles of a gas to liters of a gas at Standard Temperature and Pressure (or STP).  At STP, 1 mole of gas occupies 22.4 L of space.  We went through a couple of examples and then worked on Assignment C21.  I will check this on Monday.  Most students finished it in class.  They then started working on Assignment C22, which is a review of everything we have learned so far with the mole. We will work on this more tomorrow.

Physics 30 - Oct 1

Today we continued on the unit by looking at friction and how friction works.  We talked about what friction depends on and then we studied kinetic friction specifically.  We started example 13 in the notes.  Tomorrow we will finish example 13, do example 14 and then look at static friction.

Physical Science 20 - Sept 30

Today in class we went through the process for how to write a formal lab report.  Students will need to follow this process for every formal lab we do.  For the lab we did yesterday, the formal lab report is due on Friday.  Afterwards, we learned about molarity, and how we can use it to convert molar quantities.  We did a couple of examples (slides 27&28).  I assigned C20 at the end of the period however students will have more time to work on this tomorrow.  For tomorrow, students need to focus on getting prepared for the mole quiz tomorrow.

Physics 30 - Sept 30

Today we started to look at specific types of forces.  We began with an examination of the force of gravity.  This is also called an object's weight, although not to be confused with an object's mass.  The one lesson I wanted students to learn today is that mass and weight do not mean the same thing.  Mass is a measure of the amount of matter an object has whereas weight is the force of gravity on that object.  One is measured in kilograms, the other in newtons. 

We learned about the differences between weight and the normal force and also learned what exactly a bathroom scale is measuring.  The concept of apparent weight is really important for students to understand.  This was all covered on slides 36 to 42.  Students were given some time to work on Assignment 2.4 at the end of class, which we will take up tomorrow. 

Physical Science 20 - Sept 29

Happy Tuesday Everyone!  Today in class I checked Assignment C18 and C19 and we went over them.  The answers are posted in the answer key folder in the course notes link.  Students then had a chance to do the first lab of the year.  This was called Lab C2 - The Art of Chemistry.  If you were absent today you need to do this lab over a lunch period. 

Physics 30 - Sept 25

Today in class we learned about Newton's Third Law of Motion, or the action-reaction law.  We learned about the implications of such an important law and how often we use this law and don't realize it.  I assigned Assignment 3.3 at the end of the class.

Physical Science 20 - Sept 25

Today, we did a couple of examples related to molar conversions.  We did an example where we converted to the number of molecules given the mass of a substance in grams.  We also learned how to find the mass of a certain number of atoms of the substance.  These two examples involved 2 steps, first converting our given information into moles and then converting from moles into the required.  Students then had a chance to work on Assignments C18 & C19. 

On Monday, we will continue working on Assignments C18 and C19.  They will be due Tuesday.  Have a great weekend everyone.

Physical Science 20 - Sept 24

Today in class we began to look at how to convert information using the idea of the mole.  This involved using the molar mass to convert from the mass of a substance to moles of the substance and visa versa.  As well, we can use Avogadro's number to convert from the number of particles of a substance to the moles of the substance and visa versa.  We just did a couple of examples (slides 16 and 17 in the powerpoint called The Mole) outlining the process.  We will work through a couple of more examples tomorrow and then work on Assignments C18 and C19.

Physics 30 - Sept 24

Today we finished off examples 8 and 9 about Newtons Second Law and then students had a chance to work on Assignment 2.2.  Tomorrow we will move on to Newton's Third Law.

Physical Science 20 - Sept 22

Today in class we learned a method for converting units.  This method is called dimensional analysis or unit analysis.  We went through a couple of examples and then students worked on the handout called Metric Conversion Homework.  Period 2 did the odd questions and Period 3 did the even ones.  The notes were on slides 37-49 of the Math Notes Powerpoint located in the Chemistry Notes folder.  The assignment is also located in the same folder.  Tomorrow we will start looking at the concept of the mole.

Physics 30 - Sept 21

We learned about Newton's First Law of Motion today, or the Law of Inertia.   After students took a couple of slides of notes (slides 16-17) we then looked at many different examples of inertia as well as a couple of interesting demonstrations of the first law.  There was no assignment that went along with this lesson.  Students can work on Assignment 2.1.  Tomorrow is our first in class assignment.  To prepare, students should work on Assignments 1.1 -1.7

Physical Science 20 - Sept 21

I checked and we went over the answers to Assignment C15.  Afterwards, students we given Assignment C16 and told to have it completed by Friday.  We then started to reviewing math skills important for science.  This included a discussion about significant figures and scientific notation.  Tomorrow we will finish this will a discussion on unit conversion.  This is all located in a new powerpoint called Math Notes located in the Chemistry folder of the course notes link.

Physics 30 - Sept 18

Today we started our second unit on dynamics.  We learned what forces are, general types of forces as well as some of the specific forces that we will be studying.  We also learned what a net force is as well as how to determine the net force.  A new type of diagram was introduced which was the free body diagram.  The FBD for short, will be a vital component to solving problems involving forces.  Assignment 3.1 was assigned and we will take up this assignment on Wednesday.  This was all covered on slides 1-15 on the new powerpoint in the Unit 2 folder.

Monday we will start learning about Newton's Laws of Motion with an examination of the first law of motion.

Physical Science 20 - Sept 18

Today in class we went through a couple of examples of how to find the net ionic equation from a balanced double replacement reaction.  With the time remaining, students worked on Assignment C15.  We will go over this on Monday.

Physics 30 - Sept 17

Today students had a period to work on Assignment 1.7.  Tomorrow we will be moving onto Unit 2 on dynamics.  If students want to print off the notes for the unit, they can find them in the class notes link on the right of this webpage.  Look in the Unit 2 folder.  I will not be providing notes for the units from now on.

Physical Science 20 - Sept 17

In Period 2 today we learned about double replacement reactions and ionic equations.  We also learned how to determine whether or not an ionic compound would be soluble.  Tomorrow we will look at some examples of double replacement reactions and how to make a net ionic equation with it. Remember that Assignments C13 and C14 are due tomorrow. We did some examples in Period 3 of double replacement and net ionic equations.  Tomorrow we will do a couple more and then have time to work on Assignment C15.

Physics 30 - Sept 16

Today in class we finished up Unit 1 with a couple of examples on vector resolution with non-collinear vectors.  We did example 13 together and then we setup example 14 as a class but students solved it individually at the end of the class.  Tomorrow we will have a period to work on Assignment 1.7, which happens to be that last assignment for the unit.  On Friday we will begin our new unit on dynamics.

Physical Science 20 - Sept 16

In Period 2 today we learned how to predict the products of a chemical reaction.  We spent most of the time working with single replacement reactions and how to determine whether or not a reaction will occur based on the activity series.  Students were then given some time to work on Assignments C13 and C14.  I said in class that they would be due tomorrow but due to your quiz, we will go over these assignments on Friday.   SO this means have them completed for Friday, NOT tomorrow.  In Period 3, we studied double replacement reactions in some more detail and learned how to determine whether or not an ionic compound will be soluble in water.  This involved using the solubility table which was given to you.  We didn't get to Assignment C17.  We will try to get there tomorrow.  Reminder that tomorrow is your quiz on nomenclature.  Study Assignment C8.

Physical Science 20 - Sept 15

Today in class, at least in Period 2, we learned about the different types of chemical reactions.  We will use this knowledge to be able to predict the products of a chemical reaction.  We didn't have much time today due to a visit from administration but students were given some time to work on Assignment C12, which I will check tomorrow.  In period 3 we are a little ahead.  We had time yesterday to look at predicting products for some of these reaction types.  We focused mainly on single replacement reactions and how to use the activity series.  Today students got time to work on Assignments C13 and C14.  I will check those tomorrow.  We will then begin to look at how to predict the products of a double replacement reaction.

Physics 30 - Sept 11

Today we started our 2nd unit on vectors.  We learned about direction systems, types of vectors and doing vector addition and subtraction.  We learned how to draw scale diagrams and were just finishing up Example 9 when the bell went.  Students can work on Assignment 1.5 over the weekend and I will take up any questions on Monday.  Have a great weekend everyone.

Physical Science 20 - Sept 11

Another Friday in the books means another week is over everyone.  Congrats!  Today in class I handed back Assignment C8 which was marked and I talked about the grading system that I use in the class.  If you received an NA on the assignment, correct your mistakes and hand it in again next class.  I had to move the date of the quiz from Tuesday to Thursday next week.  This means that the quiz is now on Thurs, Sept 17.  After I handed back the assignment today, we had a little time to review nomenclature and bring it all together.  After the review, I continued on with chemical reactions and showed how to transform a paragraph describing a chemical reaction into a word equation and then from there into a balanced chemical equation.  This was covered on slides 27-31 in the notes.  Students spent the remainder of class working on Assignments C10 & C11.  We will go over these on Monday and start to learned about the different types of reactions.  Have a good weekend everyone.

Physics 30 - Sept 10

Today in class we learned how to solve free fall problems.  These are just special kinematics problems that have a constant acceleration of gravity, which is 9.8 m/s/s.  We went through one example and then students had the rest of class to work on Assignment 1.4.  We also talked about the course project in Period 1 but we did get a chance to discuss it in Period 5 with the pep rally.  We will discuss that tomorrow in Period 5.

Physical Science 20 - Sept 10

Students handed in Assignment C8 today.  We then started looking at chemical reactions and the different parts of one.  We talked about the Law of Conservation of Mass and what that directly relates to.  We then moved into balancing chemical equations.  This was review for most people but we did learn some tricks for balancing equations for efficiently.  Students then worked on Assignment C9 for the remainder of the class.  This will be checked tomorrow.  Tomorrow we will look at how to write a chemical equation from a word equation.

Physics 30 - Sept 9

Today students had a work period to figure out how to work with Twin Object Problems.  They worked on Assignment 1.3.  Yesterday students learned a technique for how to work with these problems and today they got to practice that technique.  Tomorrow we will move on to learned about how objects move when in free fall.

Physical Science 20 - Sept 9

Today, after I checked and went over Assignment C5 and C6, we then learned how to name organic compounds and draw those structures.  This was an introductory lesson into organic nomenclature, as we only learned how to name aliphatic hydrocarbons.  Slides 61 -75 were covered in the powerpoint but these are all in your notes package that you picked up at the beginning of the semester.  Students then worked on Assignment C7.  I will check this tomorrow.  Most of the students then continued on to work on Assignment C8, which is a review of all of this nomenclature stuff.  This assignment is also due tomorrow but I will be taking it in for marks.  Ensure that you have completed Assignment C8.  This will help you prepare for the nomenclature quiz next Tuesday, Sept 15.  Tomorrow we will start learning about chemical reactions and balancing chemical equations.

Physics 30 Textbook

I have found a copy of the Physics 30 textbook online and posted in online for all students who wish to access it electronically.  It is actually the 2005 version and we are using the 2009 version of the book, but I have found no differences so far with it.  It is located in the Physics 30 Notes folder.  Enjoy!

Physical Science 20 - Sept 4

Today I checked Assignments C1 and C2 for completion.  The answers are in the answer key folder found in the chemistry folder of the Physical Science 20 Course Notes link along the right of this webpage.  We then learned how to name compounds involving polyatomic ions as well as ones with multiple cationic charges.  Each one has it own set of rules that vary slightly from the rules we have already learned.  This was covered on slides 35-53 of the Nomenclature Powerpoint.  Students finished the class by working on Assignments C3 and C4, both of which with be checked on Tuesday.  Have a great long weekend everyone!

Physics 30 - Sept 4

We did it everyone.  We officially survived the first week of school.  Today I finished up examples 5 & 6 and students then signed out textbooks and worked on Assignments 1.1 and 1.2 for the remainder of the period.  We will go over these assignments on Tuesday and then dig into a particularly difficult problem called a twin objects problem.  Have a great long weekend everyone!

Physics 30 - Sept 3

Today in class we finished up our notes on the kinematics review.  I then introduced the kinematic equations to students and we went through examples 3 and 4.  Tomorrow we will finish up this with examples 5 and 6 and then students will get a chance to start some assignments.

Physical Science 20 - Sept 3

Today we finished our notes on molecular compounds in Period 3 and continued on learning how to name simple ionic compounds.  Students then had the rest of class to work on Assignments C1 and C2. I will be checking both tomorrow.  In Period 2,  I checked Assignment C1 and then we learned about simple ionic substances.  Students spent the remainder of the class working on Assignment C2.  I will be checking this tomorrow.  Tomorrow we will be moving on and looking at polyatomic ions as well as multiple cationic charges.

Physics 30 - Sept 2

Today we finished looking at the course outline and then talked about classroom expectations and procedures.  We then got started on the new Physics 30 course which meant we started refreshing our knowledge of motion.  We started with Unit 1 on Kinematics and cover slides 1-8 of the powerpoint called Unit 1 Notes.  Students followed along with a set of handout notes that they picked up today in class.  Tomorrow we will finish this review and begin to look at the kinematic equations.

Physical Science 20 - Sept 2

The second day of the course and we already got started today.  We finished going over the course outline today, talked about classroom expectations and procedures and then got started on chemical nomenclature.  This should be a review from the chemistry unit you learned in Science 10.  That means we will be going pretty fast through this information.  In Period 2, we learned how to name elements, common substances and molecular compounds.  This was all covered on slides 1-26 from the Nomenclature Powerpoint.  I assigned Assignment C1 which students will have to have completed for tomorrow.  We are little behind in Period 3 so we didn't quite get to Assignment C1.  We will get there tomorrow and start learning how to work with ionic compounds.

Welcome Back!!!

For those of you who are new, then I extend a warm welcome.  For those of you familiar with my classes and my website, welcome back.  This website is available to all students in my courses to help them find all course materials.  Notes, assignments, labs, etc. will all be found here.  Follow the links found on the right hand side of the webpage to get course materials.  As well, I will try to update this daily with a little note as to what we did in class that day.  If you are absent from class for whatever reason, please visit this website to find out what you missed.  Bookmark it!!!

Physical Science 20 Wave Applet

Click to Run

Physical Science 20 - June 9

Today we had a period to work on Homework 5.4.  I will checking this tomorrow and we will continue on to learn about standing waves.

Many students have asked me for a review for the second half of the course.  I have posted it here.  It serves as a study guide if you complete it.  It covers all of the outcomes in heat and physics.

Physical Science 20 - June 8

Today in class we started looking at the wave property of interference.  This involved learning about the principle of superposition and what a resultant wave looks like.  We learned a technique for drawing a resultant wave and just finished an example before the bell went.  This was all covered on slides 133-146.  We will look at homework 5.4 tomorrow in class.

Physics 30 - June 8

Today we looked at Kirchoffs' Laws and how they apply to series circuits.  We solved a couple of examples involving series circuits.  We covered slides 38-43.  At the end, I assigned Assignment 5.5.  Reminder that tomorrow we have our last unit exam on Unit 4.

Physical Science 20 - June 5

Today we learned about the universal wave equation.  This equation applies to all waves and is pretty simple to use.  The notes we took today we covered on slides 122-127.  Students were assigned Homework 5.2 and Assignment 5.1 today and we will take this up on Monday.

Physics 30 - June 5

I haven't posted anything in a little while but we are almost done the course everyone.  We have finish example 5 and then learned about electric fields and electric potential difference.  Yesterday we started looking at electrodynamics and Ohm's Law.  We continued that today and then looked at electric power and energy. We have covered examples 5-15 in the powerpoint and the notes on slides 11-36.  Today I assigned Assignments 5.3 and 5.4.  We will take this up on Monday and continue on.
We have 2 things left to cover in the unit on series and parallel circuits.  Have a great weekend everyone.

Physical Science 20 - June 1

Today we learned about waves and some of the terminology associated with waves.  This was covered on slides 111-119.  There was just notes today and no homework.  Tomorrow we will be looking at many properties of waves by doing a little activity.

Physics 30 - June 1

Yay! The month of June is upon us! In a short amount of time it will be July everyone and we can finally relax.

But it isn't July yet and that means we still have stuff to do.  Today we started unit 5 and began looking at electricity.  We covered slides 1-10 on the new powerpoint and did examples 1-4.  This is for the majority of students that took the option today to not show up.  Reminder that tomorrow we are having our second in class assignment for Unit 4.  Study Assignments 4.5-4.8.

Physical Science 20 - May 28

Today we started looking at the wave model and learning about wave behaviour.  We started by learning what causes waves.  Waves are periodic motion caused by vibrations or disturbances in a medium.  We learned about characteristics and key terms including period and frequency and how they are related.  This was covered on slides 97-105.  We didnt quite get to the homework today.  We will do that tomorrow.

Physics 30 - May 28

Today we started looking at collisions in 2D.  These problems just turn out to be momentum conservation problems with vector analysis.  We went through Examples 24 and 25.  Tomorrow we will go through the last example in the unit.

Physical Science 20 - May 27

Today we studied the remainder of the properties of light as well as looked at the particle model for a viable option of explaining these properties.  Students copied down notes on a summary sheet and we came up with the conclusion that the particle model doesn't adequately explain the properties of light.  This was all covered on slides 83-96.  Tomorrow we will start looking at the wave model after we get an understanding of what waves are.  This will happen however after your quiz.  Reminder of your quiz tomorrow on refraction.

Physics 30 - May 27

Today in class we continued looking at collisions and how to solve them in one dimension.  This involved mostly using the law of conservation of momentum and determining what type of collision we were working with.  We then worked through 3 different examplkes to get the technique down.  This was all covered on slide 53-58.  Assignment 4.7 was given at the end of the class as well.  Please have a look at that before tomorrow.  Tomorrow, we will begin to look at collisions in 2D.

Physics 30 - May 26

Today in class we moved on despite the fact that the school celebrated the Box Lunch Auction today.  We began to look at the conservation of momentum and how we can apply that to different situations.  We went over a couple of examples related to explosions and how to solve them with the conservation of momentum and then we also learned about the different types of collisions.  This was covered on slides 49-53.  We will looking at collisions tomorrow with an examination of collisions in one dimension.

Physical Science 20 - May 25

In Period 2, I checked Homework 3.5 and then we learned how to draw ray diagrams for lenses.  Students worked on Assignment 3.2 and I will be taking this in on Wednesday as tomorrow is the box lunch auction.

In Period 4 today, we started looking at the rest of the properties of light with some demonstrations and then we started to match those properties to a scientific model.  This model assumes light is made up of particles and we call this model the particle model of light.  Students took notes on slides 83-94.  

Physics 30 - May 22

Today we started to look at momentum, what it is and how we measure it.  We also learned about the impulse momentum theorem.  This means that in order to change an object's momentum, one needs to apply a force to an object for an amount of time.  The product of the force and the time is called the impulse.  We went through examples 16, 17, & 18 and I assigned Assignment 4.6 at the end of the class.  

Reminder that on Monday we will be having our first in class assignment for this unit on energy and work.  Know how to do Assignments 4.1-4.5.  Have a great weekend everyone.

Physical Science 20 - May 22

Today in period 2 we looked at how to find the image using the lens and magnification equations.  Students worked through a couple of examples and then they worked on Homework 3.5.  I will check this on Monday.

In Period 4, I checked Homework 3.5 and then we learned how to draw ray diagrams for lenses.  Students worked on Assignment 3.2 and I will be taking this in on Monday.  Have a great weekend everyone.

Physics 30 - May 21

Today in class we finished up our notes on Conservation of Energy.  We did examples 13-15 and then the students had the remainder of the class period to work on Assignment 4.5.  This is the last assignment that will be included on the next in class assignment on Monday.

Tomorrow we are going to start to look at momentum and what we can learn from motion with that.

Physical Science 20 - May 21

Today in Period 2, we started to learn about lenses and optics.  We were able to understand the difference between converging and diverging lenses.  We also learned the different definitions that are important when studying lenses.  We did quite get to learning about the lens equation today.  We will save that for tomorrow.

In Period 4, students wrote their quiz on speed of light and reflection.  They then had the remainder of the period to work on Homework 3.5 from yesterday as well as Part C of the Refraction Practice Problems.

Physics 30 - May 20

Today we started to look at the conservation of energy by going over a couple of examples.  We did example 12 and saw some demonstrations about the conservation of energy.  We didn't quite get through examples 13-15.  We will finish these tomorrow and work on Assignment 4.5.  This was covered on slides 30-34.

On Monday next week we will have our first in class assignment for this unit.  It covers Assignments 4.1-4.5.  Even though I didn't assign anything new today in class, students should still be working ahead to get caught up on any assignments that they are behind on.

Physical Science 20 - May 20

Today in Period 2 we learned about the phenomenon of total internal reflection and the concept of the critical angle.  We saw a couple of demonstrations about the critical angle and total internal reflection and learned about how fibre optics work.  This was covered on slides 57-62.  Students then worked on Part C of the Refraction Practice Problems.  I will go over this tomorrow.

In Period 4, I was away, but the sub should have started to look at optics and lenses.  Students learned about the different types of lenses as well as how find images in the different types of lenses mathematically.  This was covered on slides 64-77.  Reminder that tomorrow students will be writing the quiz on the speed of light, magnification and the mirror equation.  We will finish the notes on the lens equation tomorrow and students will then get into Homework 3.5

Physics 30 - May 19

Today students learned about potential energy and how to calculate it.  The concept of defining a reference level is important in understanding potential energy.  Students were given Assignment 4.4 to work on. Tomorrow we will begin to look at the law of conservation of energy and how to work with it.

Physical Science 20 - May 19

Today in Period 2, students wrote the quiz on Speed of Light, Magnification and Curved Mirrors.  After they finished, they had the rest of the class to work on Assignment 3.1 and Part B of the Refraction Practice Problems.  Students will hand in Assignment 3.1 and I will go over Part B tomorrow.  In Period 4, we moved on to look at critical angle and total internal reflection.  Critical angle is a special incident angle where the refracted angle will be 90 degrees.  If light tries to exit a substance at an angle greater than the critical angle, it wont be able to and it will just reflect around inside.  This is called total internal reflection.  They copied notes from slides 57-61 and worked on Part C of the Refraction Problems for the remainder of the class.  These will be due on Thursday.  Tomorrow we will start to look at optics and lenses.

Physical Science 20 - May 15

Today students learned about the laws of refraction.  In particular a law called Snell's Law.  This law tells us how the angle of incidence relates to the angle of refraction.  We did a couple of examples where we applied this law.  Students then had the remainder of class to work on Part B of the Refraction Practice Problems.  Students in Period 4 also worked on Assignment 3.1 which was on refraction diagrams.  I will be checking these 2 things on Tuesday for Period 4.  Students in Period 2 will get a little bit more time to work on these.  However, those students are going to be writing a quiz for me on Tuesday. Study Homework 2.2, 2.4 and 2.6!! It is on speed of light, magnification and mirror equation. Period 4 will be writing this quiz on Thursday.

Physics 30 - May 15

Today we looked at the concept of energy and learned how to calculate kinetic energy.  We also learned how to about the work-energy theorem, where you can calculate the work done by figuring out the change in kinetic energy.  This was covered on slides 15-23.  Assignment 4.3 was given at the end of class. We will go over this on Monday and then learn about potential energy.

Physics 30 - May 14

Today in class we talked about power and how to calculate it.  We went through a coupkle of examples covered on slides 10-14 and students had the remainder of the period to work on Assignment 4.2.  We will go over this tomorrow and start looking at energy.

Physical Science 20 - May 13 & 14

Yesterday in class we went through how to draw ray diagrams for curved mirrors.  This method involved drawing three separate light rays and allowed us to discover the image characteristics.  We went over how to draw ray diagrams for both converging and diverging mirrors.  I then assigned Assignment 2.3 which I gave students more time to work on today.

Today we started looking at the property of refraction.  We learned about the terms of optical density and index of refraction.  I assigned Part A of the Refraction Practice Problems.  We will go over it tomorrow.  This was all covered on slides 39 - 51.  Tomorrow we are going to learn about the laws that govern refraction.

Physical Science 20 - May 12

Today in class we learned how to find the image of an object in a curved mirror using equations.  Two equations were introduced, the mirror equation and a revamped magnification equation.  Using those 2 equations, we were able to discover all of the image characteristics.  We went through a couple of examples and then students spent the rest of the class working on Homework 2.6.  We went through slides 32-37 today.  Tomorrow we will look at a graphical approach to discovering the image characteristics.

Physical Science 20 - May 11

Today in class we reviewed image characteristics and what they are.  We then learned about the characteristics for images in a place mirror and what a real image is.  This then lead into an introduction into curved mirrors and some terminology for curved mirrors.  Eventually we are going to be determining the characteristics for images in curved mirrors as well using one of 2 methods.  But we will save that for tomorrow.  Today students had to complete Homework 2.5 on reflection diagrams and finding the reflected rays.  We worked through slides 24-33 on the powerpoint.

Physics 30 - May 11

Today we started out new unit on energy and momentum.  We began looking at the physical definition of work and what work is.  We did examples 1-3 and looked at some special situations where work is zero.  Students then had the remainder of class to work on Assignment 4.1. We will take this up on Wednesday because tomorrow is your Unit 3 exam.  

We are also having the lab quiz for Lab 3.2 on Wednesday before the band trip.  Make sure to study your lab report as well as the supplemental lab worksheets that you handed in today.

Physical Science 20 - May 7

Today in class we learned about the laws that govern reflection as well as the different image characteristics.  Students took notes from slides 18-24 in the powerpoint on physics.  We didn't start Homework 2.5 today as time ran out because of the shortened day.

Tomorrow there will be no class due to the fact that I am away at a conference.  Make sure to have Lab 2.3 done for Monday.  Have a great weekend everyone.

Physics 30 - May 6

Today we learned about Einstein's view of gravity.  We learned about the general theory of relativity.  Einstein believed that gravity wasn't a force itself, but an effect on space itself.  We watched a couple of videos that are linked below to try to explain this idea a little bit better.  If you were absent today, please watch the following videos to get a sense of general relativity.

Physical Science 20 - May 5

Today in class we started examining the property of reflection.  Students did Lab 2.3 on the reflection of light in a plane mirror.  They were just learning how to anaylize their data before the bell went to end the class.  We will finish up the analysis on Thursday.  Tomorrow we have our exam on heat.  Make sure you are prepared for it.

Physics 30 - May 5

Today in class students handed in Lab 3.2.  We then went on to learn about an extension to this lab, the existence of something called dark matter.   We learned in the lab that more mass causes more speed for the centripetal motion.  This applies for simple motion that we see on Earth, like a stopper spinning around on a string, as well as the motion of stars in galaxies.

We learned about a currently anomaly in physics.  This was the fact that stars in a galaxy are moving much faster than they should be.  The mass that consists within the galaxy that we can see is not enough to make the stars move so fast.  This is the basis for the search for dark matter.

We watch a video today to explore these ideas a little further and to learn more about dark matter research.  Students answered a worksheet that went along with the video.  The worksheet is found here.  It is called Lab 3.2 Supplemental Worksheets.  The video is linked in 3 parts in the Course Video Youtube playlist.  It is called the Mystery of Dark Matter.  If you were absent today, please watch the video there.

Tomorrow we are going to learned about another view of how gravity works.

Physical Science 20 - May 4

May the Fourth be with you! What a great day!

Today in class we learned about the magnification equation as well how a pinhole camera works.  We took some notes and one example covered on slides 9-16 in the powerpoint.  Students then had the remainder of class to work on Homework 2.4.  I will check this tomorrow.  Tomorrow we are going to look at another property of light - how it reflects.

Physical Science 20 - May 1

Today in class we learned about the next property of light, called the rectilinear propagation of light - this means that light travels in straight lines.  Students did the Activity called Lab 2.1 and most students handed it in by the end of the period.  This lab does not require a formal lab report; students just need to hand in the sheet the accompanied the activity.  After that students worked on Homework 2.2.  This I will check on Monday.  Have a good weekend everyone!

Physics 30 - May 1

Today in class I went over the analysis for the lab that we did yesterday.  For students who were absent, you can check the document called Lab 3.2 Analysis Aid for what was described today in class. It is in the Unit 3 folder in the course notes link.  On Monday we are having our next in class assignment for this unit.  Know Assignments 3.5-3.8.  Have a good weekend everyone!

Physical Science 20 - April 30

Today we started our new unit on Physics and particularly light. Before that though I handed out another assignment on Heat and enthalpy in particular. This was called Assignment H5 and students are to hand it in tomorrow to be marked.  If you were absent today, you can find this assignment in the Heat folder in the course notes link.

We talked about the different properties of light and started looking at the speed of light in particular.  We learned that light travels very fast in a vacuum (300 million meters per second) and this makes calculating distances of very far objects easy.  These distances are called astronomical distances and we went over the definition of a parsec, a light year, and an astronomical unit.  We then looked at an example using these and students were assigned Homework 2.2.  Homework 2.2 will be due at a later date though due to Assignment H5 though.

There is a new powerpoint that students can download to get the notes for this unit.  It is found in the Physical Science 20 link on the right and the notes are in the Physics folder called Physics Notes.  We went through slides 1-7 today.  Tomorrow we will be looking at the rectilinear propagation of light.

Physics 30 - April 30

Today we did Lab 3.2 which was on using uniform circular motion to measure the mass of an object that causes that motion.  Students collected data today and started analyzing that data.  Tomorrow we will continue analyzing that data and I will talk about what that should look like.

For students who were absent today, you can find 3 sets of sample data in the Unit 3 folder of the course notes.  Use only 1 of those sets.  If you need help analyzing the data, there is a handout in the same folder labelled, Lab 3.2 Analysis Aid.  Use it to help analyze your data.

Physical Science 20 - April 29

Today in class we discussed the analysis for the lab that we did yesterday.  Students then used the remainder of the class to work on their lab reports.  These are due tomorrow.  Students who were absent for the lab yesterday can still complete the lab if they use the sample data that is able in the Heat folder of the course notes.  Look in the link on the right hand side of the webpage.  Tomorrow we are going to get started on the Physics unit.

Physics 30 - April 29

We had a work period today in class due to a meteor strike and Knievel had to calculate the chances of us surviving so he could not teach today. Pysch! Students were away for retreat today so we decided not to move on.

Physical Science 20 - April 28

Today in class we went over Assignment H4.  The answers are posted in the heat folder of the course notes link.  Afterwards, students completed Lab H1 where they determined the specific heats of 5 different metals.  Students just gathered information today.  Tomorrow we will talk about analysis and when the lab will need to be completed.

Physics 30 - April 28

Today in class we finished looking at planetary motion and how it relates to uniform circular motion. This involved some of the equations I introduced yesterday.  We then went through examples 26 and 27 and students than had the remainder of class to work on Assignment 3.8.  Tomorrow, with most students away at retreat, we will just have a work period.

Physical Science 20 - April 27

Today we went over a couple of examples that showed us how to use Hess's Law.  These examples were different than the ones given in class and allowed us to outline the process of Hess's Law.  After those examples, students then worked on Assignment H4 (Period 2 was assignment the even questions, period 4 was assigned the odd questions) for the remainder of the period.  This assignment will be checked tomorrow.  Tomorrow we are going to be doing Lab H1 on specific heats.

Physics 30 - April 27

Today we started looking at planetary motion and Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation.  This law states that there is a force that exists between any two objects that have mass.  This force is proportional to their mass and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the masses.  We did examples 24 and 25 which used this law.  We then looked at how gravity causes uniform circular motion, particularly with objects in orbit around planets and stars.  This is called gravitational motion.  It is born from the fact that the centripetal force that causes the motion is supplied by gravity.  We derived some interesting relationships with this fact. We didn't quite get to assignment 3.8 but will tomorrow after we look at a couple of examples.

Physical Science 20 - April 23 & 24

Yesterday we went over Assignment H3 and took up some questions that students had with that.  The remainder of the period I allowed students to study for the heat quiz which was today.  After students wrote the heat quiz today, we learned about enthalpy changes and how to calculate them in a chemical reaction.  This involved using Hess's Law, where you break a chemical reaction down into its parts and determine the overall enthalpy change based on the enthalpy change of the individual parts of the reaction.  We didn't quite get to the assignment today, Assignment H4, but we will get there on Monday. Have a good week everyone.

Physics 30 - April 23 & April 24

Yesterday in class we starting to examine uniform circular motion.  This is a type of motion that happens with a constant speed but a changing direction.  A force called the centripetal force causes this type of motion.  We learned how to calculate the centripetal force along with the centripetal acceleration.  We then worked through a couple of examples (#19-23) today and students finished the class by working on Assignment 3.7.  On Monday we are going to begin to look at gravitational motion.

Physics 30 - April 22

Today we did Lab 3.1 where we measured the coefficient of friction of our shoes.  Students collected data today and started the lab write up, which are due on Friday.  Tomorrow we are going to start to look at centripetal motion.

Physical Science 20 - April 22

Today we learned how to do calculate the heat absorbed or released during phase changes and temperature changes.  These are combined heat problems where we have to do multiple steps to solve the heat value.  We worked through one example (covered on slides 20-27) and then students worked on Assignment H3 for the remainder of the class.  This assignment will allow students to prepare for the quiz on heat which will be on Friday.  Assignment H3 is due tomorrow.

Physical Science 20 - April 21

Today we learned how to calculate the heat involved in changing phases of different substances.  Much like yesterday's lesson, this is dependent on the mass of the substance involved and the type of the substance.  It is not dependent on a temperature change however as phase changes do not involve a temperature change.  Students copied down notes today on slides 12-19 and worked on Assignment H2 for the remainder of the class. I will check this tomorrow and then we will start combine these 2 types of problems.

Physics 30 - April 21

Today in class we had a work period to work on Assignment 3.6.  Most students worked on Assignment 3.5 today.  Make sure you get caught up in the course work.  Tomorrow we are doing Lab 3.1 where you are measuring the coefficient of friction of your shoes.

Physics 30 - April 20

Today we finished Example 17 which we started last Thursday and we also did Example 18.  Both involved looking at how friction works on an incline or a ramp.  Tomorrow students will have the opportunity to work on Assignment 3.6.

Physical Science 20 - April 20

Today in class, students handed in Assignment 1.1 on solving word problems.  As well, I checked Homework 1.2 on manipulating formulas.  After that, we got started on learned about how to measure quantities of heat.  We learned about specific heat capacities and what changes in heat energy depends on.  This was all related by a nice formula that allowed students to see the heat energy gained or lost is dependent on the substances mass, its temperature change and its specific heat capacity.  This was all covered in the powerpoint called Measuring Quantities of Heat which is located in the Heat Folder of the Physical Science 20 Course Notes link.  We covered slides 1-11 and students then worked on Assignment H1 for the rest of the class.  When we got to some examples though of using the formula, we only did examples 1, 2, 5, and 7.  I will check Assignment H1 tomorrow and we will move on to look at what happens to heat in a phase change.

Physics 30 - April 16

Today we finished up our notes on static and kinetic friction and looked at an example of friction in two dimensions.  We did examples 15, 16 and started example 17. This was covered on slides 49-56 in the powerpoint. Students will get some time tomorrow to work on Assignment 3.5. Tomorrow as well we are having the quiz for Lab 2.1.  Make sure you understand the analysis for the lab report.

Physical Science 20 - April 14

Today in class we finished the notes on Kinetic Molecular Theory (KMT).  This means we did slides 9-25 in the powerpoint labelled kinetic molecular theory.  We finished these notes rather early on in class and instead of moving on I let students study for the Chemistry midterm which is coming up on Thursday.  Tomorrow will also be a work period for the chemistry midterm.

Physics 30 - April 14

Today in class we finished up example 14 about friction.  I was going to continue on but I decided to let the students have the rest of the class to prepare for the in class assignment tomorrow.  Reminder of the in class assignment tomorrow on Assignments 3.1-3.4.

Physical Science 20 - April 13

Welcome back everyone.  I hope everyone had a relaxing break and are ready for the push to the summer.  Today we started the new unit on heat with a look at kinetic molecular theory (KMT).  Students were copying down notes on this from the new powerpoint called Kinetic Molecular Theory found in the folder labelled Heat.  We finished slides 1-9.  Tomorrow I hope to complete the notes on KMT.

Today I handed back the stoichiometry exams to students who wrote them before the break.  Students got to keep them to study from them for the midterm we are having on Thursday.  Make sure you are preparing for that midterm.

Physics 30 - April 13

Welcome back everyone from the Easter break - the last long break before the summer and grad for all of you.  I started class today by reviewing what we have learned in the unit before the break.  I thought this was important because most students probably didn't look at physics over the break.  Students should make sure they work through Assignments 3.1-3.4 before Wednesday as we have our first in class assignment in this unit then.  

Today we continued on the unit by looking at friction and how friction works.  We talked about what friction depends on and then we studied kinetic friction specifically.  We did example 13 in the notes and then started example 14.  Tomorrow we will finish example 14 and then look at static friction.  

Physical Science 20 - April 1

Today I checked Assignment C26 and then students worked on their lab reports for the remainder of the period.  The lab reports for Lab C4 are due tomorrow.  As well, tomorrow we are going to have an open book exam on stoichiometry.  Make sure to study Assignments C24 to C26.

Physics 30 - March 31 & April 1

Yesterday in class we learned about Newton's Third Law of Motion, or the action-reaction law.  We learned about the implications of such an important law and how often we use this law and don't realize it.  I assigned Assignment 3.3 at the end of the class.

Today we started to look at specific types of forces.  We began with an examination of the force of gravity.  This is also called an object's weight, although not to be confused with an object's mass.  The one lesson I wanted students to learn today is that mass and weight do not mean the same thing.  Mass is a measure of the amount of matter an object has whereas weight is the force of gravity on that object.  One is measured in kilograms, the other in newtons. 

We learned about the differences between weight and the normal force and also learned what exactly a bathroom scale is measuring.  The concept of apparent weight is really important for students to understand.  This was all covered on slides 36 to 42.  Students were given some time to work on Assignment 3.4 at the end of class, which we will take up tomorrow. 

Physical Science 20 - March 31

Today in class we finished up stoichiometry by looking at percent yield problems.  These are situations where you are given a certain amount of reactant and also given how much product that produces in an experiment.  Using stoichiometry, one can figure out how much product you should have produced, but due to experimental design and setup, these values are always more than what the experiment yielded.  We figured out how to calculate the percent yield of these situations.  These values should always be less then 100%.  These notes were covered on slides 26-30 in the notes and students then spent the rest of class working on Assignment C26 which will be checked tomorrow.

Physics 30 - March 30

Today we went over Assignment 3.1 and then started learning about Newton's Second Law of Motion.  This law tells us what happens to an object when a net force acts on that object.  It is also related by a simple formula which we will be using many times in the following days.  We then went through many examples and finished off with Assignment 3.2.  We went through slides 22-31 in the notes for those of you that weren't able to make it to class today.

Physical Science 20 - March 30

Today students wrote their quiz on Stoichiometry.  Afterwards we went over the answers to Assignment C25.  Students then spent the rest of the class working on the lab report for Lab C4.  This will be due on Thursday.  Tomorrow we will finish up stoichiometry by looking at percent yield calculations.

Physics 30 - March 27

We learned about Newton's First Law of Motion today, or the Law of Inertia.   After students took a couple of slides of notes (slides 16-17) we then looked at many different examples of inertia as well as a couple of interesting demonstrations of the first law.  There was no assignment that went along with this lesson.  Students can work on Assignment 3.1.  We will take this up on Monday.  Have a good weekend everyone.

Physical Science 20 - March 27

Today we finished Lab C4 by weighing our dry contents of silver and the leftover copper wire.  When students recorded this and cleaned up, we then learned about limiting reactants and how to determine them.  These types of problems occur when we are given a certain amount of each reactant and we have to determine which one limits the amount of product formed.  The one that does is called the limiting reactant.  This involves doing stoichiometry twice, with each separate reactant to determine an amount of a certain product formed.  Whichever reactant yields the lower amount of product will be the limiting reactant.  This was all covered on slides 16-24 in the notes.  Students spent the rest of the class working on Assignment C25, which we will go over on Monday.  Have a good weekend everyone.

Physics 30 - March 26

Today we started our third unit on dynamics.  We learned what forces are, general types of forces as well as some of the specific forces that we will be studying.  We also learned what a net force is as well as how to determine the net force.  A new type of diagram was introduced which was the free body diagram.  The FBD for short, will be a vital component to solving problems involving forces.  Assignment 3.1 was assigned and we will take up this assignment on Tuesday.  This was all covered on slides 1-15 on the new powerpoint in the Unit 3 folder.

Tomorrow we will start learning about Newton's Laws of Motion with an examination of the first law of motion.